Sachusetts



July 9, 1929.

J. M. 'rowNsENb ENVELOPE MCHIN E Filed-June 25. 1925 6 Sheets-Shed l 6 Sheets-Sheet I 2 Filed June 25. 1925 Jly 9, 1929. M, TOWNSEND 1,720,651

ENVELOPE @CHINE Filed June as 1925 6 sheets-sneer s Magni-oz" `Fuly 9, 1929. J. M. TowNsl-:ND

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed June 25, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ESV July 9, 1929- J. M. rowNsr-:ND 1,720,651

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed June 25, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 liza/6123274 LZS/UhZZwIaQ-en Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES maar PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. TOWNSEND, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A'SSIGNOR TO TOWNSEND ENVELOPE MACHINE CO., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAS- SACI-IUSETTS.

ENVELOPE MACHINE.

Application led June 25,

This invention relates to envelope machines and with regard to certain more specific features thereof to automatic machines in which a blank or web is treated and formed with folds and if desired supplied with inserts so that a completed7 and in some instances filled, envelope passes out from the machine.

In accordance with the rules of practice reference is made to my co-pending application for improvements in envelope mak- Ving machines, Ser. No. 713,635 filed May 15,

Reference is also made to my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,426,523 dated August 22, 1922.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to increase the capacity of such inachines and render the extraction of the {inished envelopes more certain by an improved ejector device and by the employment of various other improvements which will be specifically referred to hereinafter.

Another object of the invention resides in the addition, to a machine of this general character, of means for assenbling an insert with the envelope blank so that a finished and filled envelope issues from the machine.

Other objects lie in the provision of improvements in the mechanism shown in my co-pending application hereinbefore referred to which result in highly effective registration of the blanks at the folding station, extraordinary regularity in seams, continuity of elfectivevoperation, turning out envelopes of far-fold type and, uniform gumming of the blanks without causing interruption to the continuous operation of the machine by reason of the blanks adhering to the glue roller, or by reason of the glue or lgum distributing to other parts of the machine.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out particularly hereinafter.

The machine accordingly consists in the various features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified by theconstruction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings whereinY is 1925. serial No. 39,472.

represented one of various possible embodiments of the invention,-

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on a median lengthwise of the machine and showing the forward end thereof with gumming, folding and ejecting devices therefor.

. Figure 2 is a sectional view on a slightly reduced scale taken on a median lengthwise ofthe machine showing the selecting mechanism and some of the feeding and gumming devices.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the forward end of the machine.

Figure l is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1 -4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detailed view of the operating mechanism for the selector.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the selector disks and operating mechanism.

'Figure 6 is a view in perspective of one form of inserting device.

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of another form of inserting device.

Figure 8 is a view showing the actuating mechanism for either of the inserting vdevices shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the machine including the gumming mechanism and controlling devices therefor.

Figures 10 and 11 are views of a portion of the controlling devices for the gumming mechanism. f

Figure 12 is a view in perspective of the actuating mechanism for the front registers.

Figure 13 is a view in perspective of the actuating mechanism for the ejector.

Figure ll'is a view in perspective. of the gum roller showing the stripper plate.

The general operation of the machine which is shown herein as a preferred embodiment is as follows 'z- I A stack or bank of envelope blanks is disposed in a suitable container at the rear of the machine. The foremost blank of the stack is selected and drawn from the stack to present it to the action of the rotary feeding The blank is then further fed to registration devices which move into and out of position at proper times to locate the blank at a folding station. At the folding station certain blank holding means and a blank folding means ai'e provided and the present invention conteniplates also the ari'angementof a mechanism for assembling insert-s with the blank to be folded. This mechanism is operated in timed relation with the folding and feeding means and is designed to select an insert from a suitable container or stack and supply the same to the blank in position for enclosure by the turning over of the blank flaps under the action of the folding mechanism. There is also a presser which cooperates with the blank fho'lder to set the seams of the folded blank.

The present invention involves an additional or auxiliary presser device which in action slightly precedes the movement of the main presser and holds the folded flaps securely in position awaiting the gum setting action of the main presser. After the inserting, folding yand pressingoperations have been coinpleted an extraction means comes into operation properly positioned and timed to act upon the folded and filled blank to carry it away from the folding station.

`Referring now more 'particularly to the drawings wherein similar refeieiice characters refer to similaiparts throughout the different views, the frame of the machine comprises a horizontal table 10 and suitable lup- "rights 11 having journal bearings 12 for a main driving shaft 13. In the embodiment shown all of the operating devices except the suction pump are supported on or by this frame.

The main driving shaft 13 has fixed tliei'eonal plurality of .cams for actuating the various mechanisms which 'treat the blanks as they :pass from a stack at the rear of the machine forwardly, until the action of the ejector carries the finished product vfrom the machine. These cams which are shown. in Fig. 1 of the ldrawings are designated as follows y A. cam A for operating the pressermechanism, a vcam B for operating 'a portion of the folding'mechanism, a camC for operating another portion of the folding mechanism, a cam vD for operating the holding block, a cam E -for operating another portion of the folding mechanism, and a cam F which controls the action of a distributor in the air line to the suction holding block, timing this distributor yto open the line when a blank has been registered over the suction block. The main driving shaft carries a. bevelled gear 15. which meshes with a bevelled pinion 16 at the lower end of a shaft 17 which shaft at its upper end Vis Aconnected through bevelled gearing to a shaft 18 of a selector mechanism. By chain andsprocket connection 19 *the selector shaft "18 is connected to the shaft 2O of a gum roller 2 of the drawings, connected to a cooperating feed roll shaft 2S directly above.

From the rearward feed shaft 25, there is also a connection by means of a. chain and sprocket to the primary shaft of a gum supply mechanism. By a suitable gearing, this primary shaft is connected through an intermediate roller to a pivotally movable gum applying roller. This is a well known type of gum supply mechanism and therefore, it is not shown in the drawings. The gum applying roller is adapt-ed to Contact with certain raised areas 30 of gumming roller 21 to coat, itwith the adhesive which in turn is trans-V mitted by them to the proper arcas on the blanks as the latter are successively fed through the machine under the action vof the aforesaid feed rollers.

The main driving shaft connected through suitable clutch means to a main driving pulley (not shown) and the distributor of asuction device is connected to a pump by suitable means (not shown). The distributor head is connected by flexible con-- duits 31 to a chamber 32 in the suction hold- 100 ing block and by means of the cam F a valve -of thc distributor is intermittently operated kthe drawings are shown the inserting mecha- V nism and the actuating means therefor. These comprise a suction device as shown in Fig. 6 or a magnetic carrier 34 as shown in Fig. 7, with rack and pinionineans 35 controlled by a cam on the gum rollshaft 20. lic The suction ldevice 33 and the magnetic carrier 34 are designed for alternative use in Vthe machine according to the character of the insert which it is desired to enclose in theblank. This insert mechanism is arranged between the gum roller and the folding means and i operates in timed relation with both of these mechanisms to select an insert from a stack or bank, and deposit it on the blank being folded. V Supported at one end of the horizontal table 10 is a holder a() foi' a stack or bank of envelope blanks, a follower l1 employed to hold the blanks in a compact stack n' i front face ofthe foremost blank.registcriiu 1-35 against a wall 42. The blanks are supportwf p on edge by spaced plates 43 with the extended 44 is arranged slightly in advance of the stacking devices, and this tube is timed for intermittent pivotal movement to bring a pair of apertures 45 at the lower end of the tube over against the front surface of the foremost blank of the stack. This intermittent pivotal movement is accomplished by a cam 46 on the vso-ca-lled selector shaft, operating on a roller 47 at the end of a short arm 48 secured to one of the pivot pins 49 of a frame piece 50, journaled in uprights at either side of the table 10. The frame 50 is in part hollow and is connected by a conduit 51 which extends to the main suction conduit. By the action of the mechanism just described, the foremost blank of the stack is selected and drawn forwardly from the remaining blanks of the stack. This brings the lower end of the selected blank against the peripheries of the three rotating disks 52 of the selector mechanism. The intermediate one of the three disks 52 is provided with a cut-away portion 53 and a pivoted claw 54 which is timed to move so that it will grip the blankby reason of engagement with the rear surface of the blank which has been pulled over so that its front surface engages the edges of the disks 52. The disks on either side of the one with the claw 54 serve as guides or supports for the selected blank after it is withdrawn from the stack. The operating mechanism for the pivoted claw is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 5a of the drawings, and consists of a cam 55 actuating a Aroller 56. The cam 55 is fixed to the frame of the machine and causes the roller 56 to be moved around a shaft 57 which is in the form of a pin projecting from a disk 58 fixed on the shaft 18. This is by reason of the fact that the roller 56 is on the end of a short lever 59 which is mounted on the pin 57 The lever 59 is provided with-an extension beyond the roller 56 which is formed with the segmental gear 60 taken on a radius from the center of pin 57. The segmental gear 60 meshes with a pinion 61 fixed on a shaft 62 which carries the claw 54. The lever 59 is provided with another extension 63 beyond the pivot point 57 and between this extension and a fixed pest 64 extending from the disk 58, there is a spring 65 tending to return the roller 56 to the low points of the cam 55. This mechanism is timed to rotate the claw 18 into gripping relation with the periphery of the middle disk 52 just after the suctiondevice has withdrawn the lower end of the foremost blank from the stack, so that from the suction device the blank will be carried by the claw 54 first in a downward direction and then forwardly to introduce the blank to the feeding mechanism.

From the selector the blank is passed over idler rollers between the upper and lower guides 71 and 72 respectively to positively driven rollers 78 and 74. From these feed rollers the blank is passed forwardly to another pair of feed rollers 75 and 76, the lower roller 76 being positively driven by chain and sprocket connection 77, and the upper roller 75 bearing against the lower roll under the influence of gravity and pressure applied by suitable spring means fixed to the frame of the machine.

The gum roller 21 mounted on shaft 20 is supported by the journaling of its shaft in suitable upright brackets 80 at either side of the table 10. Directly below the gumming roller is a cooperating roller 81 loosely mounted on a shaft 82 which in turn is journaled in short rocker arms 83 extending from a shaft 84 suitably journaled in uprights on either side of the machine. A spring 85 is interposed between the table 10 and shaft 82 tending to hold the latter upwardly against an adjustable box 86 fixed to the frame of the machine. This box 86 is adjusted to permit the roller 81 to cooperate with the gumming roller, but inasmuch as it is desirable to interrupt this cooperative relationship at times, a cam control mechanism has been introduced to the machine, and this mechanism is primarily controlled by the feed of the blanks through the machine. Referring to Figure 9 of the drawings, it will be noted that a lever 90, pivoted on a shaft 91, is arranged in the path of feed of the blanks. Fixed to the shaft 91 is a rocker arm 92 having pivotal connection with a connecting rod 98 which in turn connects with the lower end of a lever 94 pivoted at 95 on the frame of the machine. The upper end of lever 94 has a pivotal connection with a slide 95 shown more clearly in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings. This slide 95 has a slot 96 at its free end which under the action of the rod and lever mechanism described moves into and out of registration with a pin 97 depending from a lever 98 pivotally mounted as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings on the shaft 84. This lever carries a cam roll 100 directly above the pin 97, and at the opposite `end of the lever, there is a spring 101 which tends to hold the cam roller 100 in engagement with a cam 102 on the gum roller shaft 20. When blanks are passing through the machine they act upon the lever to rock the shaft 91 and throw the slide into position of registration of its slot 96 with the pin 97 on lever 98, thereA is an idle action of the cam 102 on the roller 100. This results in idle movements of the lever 98 about the shaft 84 without having any effect upon the roller 81. Under these conditions the roller 81 is held in cooperative relationship with the gum roller 21 by means of the spring 85. In order that the gum on the roller 21 shall not be transmitted to the roller 81 the cam 102 operates to throw the roller 8l periodically downward, as the gummed areas of the roller 21 pass by, provided, of course, no blanks are coming through the machine. This is accomplished by the slide 95 assuming a position by reason of the weight of the lever 90, in which the slot 66 is out of regist 'ation with the pin 97, so that whatever action is given to the lever 98 by reason of the cam 102 is transmitted to the roller 81.

From the gumming station a. blank with its flaps properly gummed is passed on to the folding station. (See Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings.) The vfeed rollers 110 and l11 fixed respectively on shafts Q3 and 2G pass the blank between upper and lower guides 112 and 113 onto a suction holding block 15. This block which may take any desired form is shown in the present embodiment as rectangular andV arranged for cormeration with four folding lingers which may be designated as rear folding finger 120, front folding finger 121', and side foldingl fingerslQQ. This block and' the actuating means therefor are substantially the same as shown in my copending application above referred to, and therefore, will not be described in detail further than to state that the block has a short up and down movement under the influence of actuating cam D and the folding fi. gers are timed in relation to the movement of the block to move inwardly to fold the flaps of the blank in proper sequence as the holding block moves to its lowerinost position. The front folder 121 is designed to give the crease at the top of the envelope, and this flap which has been gummed is not folded into contact with the remainder of the envelope blank. During the folding operation a pair of ejector fingers 130 are rocked .on a shaft 131 into position where the take-oli' clips 132 locate behind the cover flap of the folded blank. As the block 115 moves upwardly, the ejector lingers 130 rock forwardly with comparative 1y quick action by means of a cam 133 shown in Figure 13 of the drawings. This cani operates on a roller 134 at the forward end of a springl held yoke 135, and this yoke is connected to the rock shaft 131 by a rod 13G and a rocker arm 137.

New and improved means have been devised for effecting the front registration of the blanks yopposite the suction holding table. Figure 3 of the drawings shows these forward registers at 140 as upstanding cylindrical posts and adjustably connected as indicated at 141 to slides 149l arranged in ways 143 fixed to the table at either side. These slides are connected by a rod 144 and levers 145 and 146, so that they move inwardly or outwardly in unison. A cam 147 on the gum vroller shaft contacts with a cam roller 148 at the upper end of a lever 149 pivoted to the frame at 150, and the lower end of this lever 149 is connected by a rod 151 to the lever 146. This operates the front register slides out of registered position to permit the folded blank to be ejected from 'the machine.

Spring means 152 effect the inward movement of the slides as the high portion of the cam 147 passes its cam roller. Y

To set'the gummed flaps of the folded blanks a presser device is provided which in many respects corresponds to the one shown in my co-pending application above referred to. 1n the present instance, however, an additional holding and pressing mechanism is attached to the main presser pad 1GO. This comprises two advance lingers 1T() normally held somewhat below lthe presser surface 171 of the pad 160 by springs 172 reacting upon arms 173 which are lixed on the main pad 1GO. The downward throw of the lingers 170 is limited by Vistable collars 174; Near the end of the ing' operation the presser is moved downilly. Under the action of the cam A the Y rance lingers are moved into yielding contact with the inturned side flapsof the blank holding them. securely in position while the main presser pad follows into Contact with the folded rear flap. The action of the lat-- ,ter pad sets the gum along the back seamsr of 'the envelope and then the presser mec-han moves upwardly followed by the holdblock. .f A Referring new to the mechanism for stripthe blanks from the gummed roller (see ures l, 2, 3 and 14) astripper plate 180 anged on the .cum roller 21 is normally held l y a springl 131 with its surface below or within the gumniing surface 182 ofthe voiler. This stripper plate is connected to a viper L 33 which is pivot-ally mounted on the um roller as indicated in Figurelfl at 184. fr cani 135 (see Figure Q) lixcd on the gum roller shaft 2O operates a cam roll carryin';` rocker arm 1813 fixed on a rock shaft 137 journaled in suitable bearings in an upright 133 fixed to the main` frame of the machine.r This rock shaft has disposed at one end another cam roll carrying rocker-arm 189 in the plane of the stripper platewiper 133. By this leans a rol-ler 19() is thrown periodically into the path of the wiper 183 so that the stripper' plate 130 will be moved m'ltwardly beyond the gumming surface` of the gum roller. '.llie stripper plate is mounted on the Lgum roller adjacent the advance gumming Y pad 132 so that the machine in its operation lwith the gum roller turning in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure 1 first gums the formird flap of a blank.A whereupon the .l

of the general type shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,426,523 dated August 22, 1922, and involves a series of suction apertures located near the outer edge so as to securely hold the blank near the line to `be noted, however, that the present invention in many aspects is not limited to the use of a suction block or to the .employment of the previously mentioned relative movement between the block and the folding fingers.

As many vcliangescould be made in the above construction and as many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention might be made Without departing lfrom the scope thereof, it is `intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings or set forth in this description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims l. In a machine of the character described, in combination, work feeding means, work folding means and an ejector for the finished work, said ejector comprising a device, operating in timed relation with the feedingv means, adapted to rock into position behind a portion of the work and by a reverse rocking motion catch into a fold in the work and carry it from the machine in a line with the feed of said work to the folding means.

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, blank feeding means, a folder comprising a holding block for the blank and folding fingers relatively movable with said block, an ejector device comprising a member which moves over the forward edge of the blank during the folding operation and takes a position behind one of the folds as the holding block completes its relative movement with the folding fingers, and means for throwing the ejector member forwardly to extract the blank.

3. In a machine of the character described, in combination, work feeding means, a folder for the work comprising a suction holding device and folding fingers, means for actuating the suction holding device toward and away from the line of'feed, an extraction finger, and means for moving said extraction finger over the forward edge of the folded work while the holding device is away from the line of feed, and having provision for causing the finger to take in to the work behind a fold and eject the work as the holder returns toward the line of feed.

4; In a machine of the character described, in combination, work feeding means, a movable member for applying adhesive to the work, stripping means carried by said movable member and operating in timed relation with the feeding means for insuring detachment of the work from the adhesive applying member. y

v 5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, work feeding means, a movable member for applying adhesive to the work, stripping means comprising a pivoted element arranged at the surface of the adhesive applying member, and an actuator therefor having provision for moving a portion of the pivoted element intermittently beyond the surface of said adhesive applying member.

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a gumming roller having surface portions adapted to receive and transmit gum, means for rotating said gumming roller, a stripper pivoted in said roller and normally held from projection beyond the gumming surface portions, and means adapted to act intermittently on said stripper to cause a portion thereof to project beyond the gumming surface.

7. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a selecting and feeding mechanism for envelope blanks, means for gumming the flaps of said blanks comprising a gum roller having surface portions adapted to receive and transmit the gum, a stripping mechanism comprising a member arranged within the gum roller normally at or below7 the said surface portions and means operative in timed relation with the selecting, feeding and gumming means adapted to periodically actuate the stripper member.

8. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a blank gumming device comprising a pair of intermittently cooperative rollers one of which has surface forms for receiving and transmitting the gum, a gum supply roller, a stripper mounted on the receiving and transmitting roller and actuating means therefor comprising a member periodically moved into the rotary path of the stripper.

9. In a machine of the character described,

- in combination, rotary means for selecting and feeding blanks, a rotary gumming element in the line of feed, a rotary element arranged for cooperation with the gumming element, and means comprising a lever arranged in the line of feed and adapted to be acted upon by the blanks being fed, whereby a cooperative relationship is established between said gumming element and the said cooperative rotary element, the latter said means having provision for discontinuing said relationship when no blanks are being fed.

l0. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a device for selecting blanks from a stack, a feeding mechanism whereby successive blanks are given a line feed, a gumming mechanism comprising two f toward and from theV other, and a finger arranged-"in thepath of feed and connected With control device Wherebysaid cam means are rendered ineffectual during the feed of the blanks;

'11. In amachine of the character described, in combination, Work feeding means, an adhesive appl-ying member, a folding device whereby certainl gummed portions of the Work are laid over other portions thereof, a presser adapted to bear upon the Work adj acent the `gfummed portions and auxiliary pressermea'ns preceding the first said presser in contact With the Work whereby certain folds are firmly heldv in preparation for the action ofthe first said presser.

121 'In an envelope folding machine, a device for gumming certain portions-of al1-en-l velope blank, a folder for the gummed blank',

presser means `for operation onthe blankfat ranged to come to bear upon the side flaps of the envelope in advance'of'thecontact of the main presser. n

13.' Ina machine ofthe character described7 in combination, blank feeding means, vblank folding mechanism,` a forward regi-ster for the blanks fed to the foldingvmechanism, s'ai'd register comprising oppositel'y disposed slides having upstanding register fingers, said slides being controll'edfby cam means to move the fingersinto and out of register position.

JOSEPH M. TOWNSEND. 

